Chapter 57 - Investigating the Bar

“I don’t care, you guys are just a bunch of lechers.

I knew something was off when I saw you half-naked earlier; you were eyeing my daughter!

I’m going to report you to the Scars Mercenary Company!”

Not long after, the innkeeper woke up and, no matter how Lu Hong tried to explain, he wouldn’t listen and just rang the magic alarm bell under the counter.

Within two minutes, Bo Kana, the squad leader who had been guarding the town gate earlier, kicked open the inn’s door and strode in, “Who dares cause trouble in the Adventurers’ Town?

Tired of living, huh?”

“Bo Kana, how many times have I told you?

That’s a wooden door; it can’t take much kicking.

Could you be a bit gentler next time?” the innkeeper cried out in distress.

“Got it, got it.

Let’s not fuss about that right now.

Where’s the troublemaker?

Oh, I mean, the troublemaker?” Squad leader Bo Kana asked impatiently, then his eyes found Lu Hong leaning on a chair in the hall.

“Hey brother, what a coincidence, we meet again!” Lu Hong waved a greeting.

“Oh boy, how are you here too?” Bo Kana laughed, “What a coincidence, indeed!”

“Bo Kana, it’s him!

He brought a group of naked men to defile my daughter!

Arrest him now!” the innkeeper pointed at Lu Hong and shouted loudly.

“Alright, alright, we’re all friends here,” Bo Kana had just taken a bribe from Lu Hong and besides, the man was also a reservist in the Heigu Mercenary Group—well-known among mercenaries.

“No way!

This time it’s serious!

They really did intend to defile my daughter!” the innkeeper was relentless.

“Enough!

Like I don’t know your tricks?

This man’s my brother, treat him well!

Look at your shabby inn, hardly a guest all year round.

Now you finally have some, don’t be too picky!” Bo Kana rebuked.

“I…I…,” the innkeeper wanted to say more, but was silenced by a kick from Bo Kana.

“Brother, you seem quite busy!” Lu Hong stood up and enthusiastically shook Bo Kana’s hand.

“Not at all, just making a living,” Bo Kana said, smiling even wider as he subtly felt the coins in his palm.

“That old ghost Tu, let me emphasize again.

This guy here is my brother, stop scheming.

Even if he tears down your inn, you’ll have to bear with it!” Bo Kana admonished the innkeeper once more before bidding farewell to Lu Hong and leaving with two subordinates.

“Boss?” Lu Hong looked at the innkeeper with a smirk.

Bo Kana had arrived not long after the magic alarm was pressed, hinting at some deceitful deal.

“Hmph!” The innkeeper snorted, showing no interest in speaking with Lu Hong and went to check on his daughter’s forehead abrasion.

“How do you split the money with Bo Kana?” Lu Hong pressed.

“What are you talking about?

I don’t understand what you mean?” The innkeeper replied nervously.

“With accommodations so scarce in town, and yet yours is empty, and that act of flipping the counter earlier was quite well performed!” Lu Hong poured himself a cup of tea and savored it carefully.

Ptooey!

How awful!

“Ha ha!

That’s my daughter’s secret recipe.

Tough if you don’t like it!

You deserve it!” The innkeeper laughed heartily as Lu Hong spat out the tea.

“This place is really toxic!

No wonder no one dares to stay here.

Besides the kitchen being toxic, even the tea’s poisoned—how’s anyone supposed to stay?

One could be sent to heaven with any slip-up.”

“What can you do about it?

I don’t welcome you here anyway, please leave!”

“Just now Bo Kana said even if I tore this place down it would be okay, should I try now?” Lu Hong picked up the huge sword leaning against the chair and smilingly asked.

“Don’t, don’t!

It’s fine, you can stay, but the charges here are quite high,” the innkeeper, genuinely afraid that Lu Hong would demolish the inn, quickly changed his tune.

“How much?”

“Gold Coin per person per day!” the innkeeper opened with a steep price.

“How much?” Lu Hong swung his huge sword; immediately, the floor shattered, creating a large crack.

“Fifty silver coins, all right,” the innkeeper grimaced in pain, offering a half-rate directly.

Ha!

Fifty silver coins, that’s the rate for the best inn in Tuzhui City, with all facilities and services included.

This dump, constantly a risk to life, could be worth fifty?

“How much?” Lu Hong pretended not to hear, sweeping his sword again, causing the walls to crumble around.

“Stop!

One silver coin, one silver coin per day!” The innkeeper quickly reduced the price again.

“For all of us, one silver coin per day,” Lu Hong emphasized again.

“How could that be?

You’ve got thirty people…

alright, alright, I agree, just stop smashing!” The innkeeper was about to refuse, but seeing Lu Hong readying his sword again, he eventually gave in.

“That’s more like it.

Here, three gold coins, and that includes compensation for the hall,” Lu Hong took out three gold coins and threw them into the innkeeper’s chest.

As the innkeeper gazed at the shiny gold coins, all his displeasure seemed to vanish.

With a smile, he assured, “Rest assured, sir.

Every day, I’ll arrange the finest meals and most comfortable beds for you, just like home.”

“Forget it, no need to bother about food for me.” Lu Hong, recalling those from Lock Fan’s group who were still lying in the kitchen unaccounted for, directly refused the innkeeper’s kindness.

“By the way, sir, where are those ‘naked men’ who came in with you?” The innkeeper only then remembered to ask about the others.

“They’re in your backyard kitchen, remember to move them all out for me.” Lu Hong waved his hand and went upstairs, planning to rest in his room since he hadn’t had much rest crossing the wilderness.

Stepping on the creaky wooden stairs, Lu Hong truly feared that he might accidentally break them.

“Be careful, sir, don’t get hurt!” The innkeeper poked his head out and kindly reminded him.

As the sun set, Lu Hong had a great sleep.

By this time, the innkeeper had carried Lock Fan and the others into the arranged guestrooms.

Seeing how sweetly Lock Fan was sleeping, Lu Hong suddenly slapped him awake.

Smack!

“Ah?!” Lock Fan immediately woke up alarmed, “What’s happening?

Are we under attack?”

“Ouch, must have been a nightmare, no worries, we’re safe now.” Lu Hong didn’t mention the slap at all but kept reassuring him.

“Brother Tu?” Lock Fan’s blurry eyes finally brightened, “I remember I went to the kitchen earlier?”

“Yes, and then you fainted from hunger,” Lu Hong said with a look of pity.

“That shouldn’t be possible, I remember we had a pretty full breakfast.” Lock Fan was puzzled.

Eating well in the morning should only make one hungry, not faint from it.

“Maybe you’re just in poor shape, remember to exercise more in the future.”

Lock Fan, dumbstruck, thought to himself: Are you kidding me?

I grew up training with a sword, how could I be out of shape?

“Alright, enough of this useless talk.

Come with me to the tavern in town, I need to gather some information.” Lu Hong urged Lock Fan to get up, and soon they headed straight for the town’s only tavern.

The only tavern in the small town was large and conveniently located in the town’s center, making it very accessible to patrons from the four street blocks.

“Hey, young lad.

This isn’t a place for you guys,” warned two burly men blocking their way at the door before they even entered.

Lu Hong and Lock Fan, still only 18, hadn’t completely lost their youthful looks.

“So, how can we get in?” Lu Hong asked.

“See this?” The two burly men flaunted their bulging muscles.

“Otherwise you may get beaten up inside, then go crying back to your mommy, haha!”

“How about this then?” Lock Fan abruptly ripped off his upper shirt, revealing a body covered in wounds that appeared gruesome under the flickering lights.

“Brother, please come in!” The burly men jumped back, overtaken by shock.

What kinds of fights had this guy been through?

Best not to mess with him.

“Thanks!” Lock Fan quickly redressed and followed Lu Hong as they pushed through the tavern doors.

The interior of the tavern, unlike the dim surroundings outside, was brightly lit with bustling voices immediately filling their ears: incessant swearing, men’s reprimanding, women’s moans, and the clinking of glasses, truly abuzz with activity.

Taking a quick scan, probably seventy percent of the town’s population had gathered here.

Approaching the bar, Lu Hong snapped his fingers.

A bartender walked over respectfully, “What can I get for you two?”

“Two juices!” Lu Hong boldly declared, “The most expensive kind.”

Lock Fan rolled his eyes, “Bro, can’t we drink some alcohol in a tavern?”

“Nope, alcohol leads to mistakes, plus I don’t like that stuff, premium brands excluded.” Lu Hong naturally didn’t believe such a place would have the kind of exotic drinks found in old master’s hidden collections, so he directly ordered two juices.

“Sorry, we don’t have juice,” the waiter said with a glance, a hint of disdain in his tone.

“Then just bring us two glasses of water.” Lu Hong tossed a copper coin, and soon two glasses of water were in their hands.

“Brother Tu, this is kind of, well, embarrassing, isn’t it?” Holding a glass of water, Lock Fan followed Lu Hong, feeling increasingly self-conscious as they wandered through the tavern.

Each time he looked up, Lock Fan felt the glass of water drew countless contemptuous glances.

Lu Hong didn’t mind; he was here to probe for information, and what they drank didn’t matter to him.

“Let me tell you, even Emperor Konstantin has fled now!

It’s said that Princess Fina and Prince Fedel of the Empire are trapped in Stone Moss City, at risk of capture any moment!” After wandering for a while, Lu Hong finally overheard the info he wanted, though it wasn’t good news.

“Don’t talk nonsense, I heard the princess and prince managed to break out of Stone Moss City in stages.” Another burly man divulged yet another shocking piece of news.